Page 60 of Casualties of War
“We have a camp, a half-mile in from here,” the man said. “We can give you some food, while you decide.”
“Decide what?” Adán asked.
“What side you’re on,” the boy said.
Adán waved toward the boat. “You didn’t see them haul me out of the boat? They’re Insurrectos.What side do youthinkI’m on?” He patted his pockets. They were empty. His phone, his wallet and the other items were all gone. Losing the phone was a blow.
“We saw pictures of you with Serrano’s wife,” the man said.
Adán sighed. “The goddamn Internet,” he swore.
“You gonna tell us that was Photoshopped?” someone asked, over their leaders’ shoulder.
“It didn’t have to be,” Adán ground out.“They conned me into it.”
“They fooled Smokey Silva?” the boy breathed, sounding disappointed.
“I was at a hospital foundation fund-raiser,” Adán told them. He lifted his voice so they could all hear him without straining. “In L.A., in a tuxedo, sipping champagne with the Vice President of the United States. You think I was looking at every woman in sequins and wondering if she was an Insurrectoagent?”
The silence was pensive.
The leader stirred. “Welcome back to Vistaria, Caballero. The land of suspicion, paranoia and black deeds.”
Adán let out a heavy breath. “Home isn’t the way I left it,” he admitted.
Soft chuckles was their response.
* * * * *
Téra watched Minnie put the phone back on the cradle. Minnie’s hand shook.
“That was Aguirre again?” Téra asked.
Minnie wiped herhand on her jeans and nodded. “He’s acknowledged I’m Chief of Staff for now and will work with me. That’s one hurdle cleared. What’s next?”
Téra looked down at the scribble pad on her knee. “Duardo phoned while you were talking to Aguirre. General Flores is now Presidentpro tem, although Duardo said don’t expect to get any directions from him. It’s purely a title for now.” She looked up at Minnie.“I guess that means you’re the boss-boss.”
Minnie swallowed, looking around the big desk and the littered piles of paper. “Calli made it look easy. I feel like I will throw up.”
“Step at a time,” Téra reminded her. “It’s all just a system, right? Make sure the system works and everything else takes care of itself.”
“This isn’t coupon cutting,” Minnie replied, grimacing. “For now, we focus onsurvival stuff. Food, water, power. Basic medicines. And security. No one in or out of the house unless they’re cleared.”
“You sent Ames to shut the gates and post guards,” Téra reminded her. “He said we should be particular about beach security, too. I told him to do what he thought best.”
“We need a head count,” Minnie said. “How many are on the grounds, who are they, their medical statusand their skills. Everyone must help. The bed-ridden wounded can help with communications—I can’t sit with the phone to my ear all day.”
Téra scribbled, nodding.
The door to the little office opened and Chloe stepped in and shut it. Her eyes were big and her face was stiff.
“What is it?” Minnie said sharply.
Chloe stood with her hands working by her sides. “Cristián isn’t responding.” Hervoice was wooden.
Téra’s heart leapt. “Did you try Trini’s phone? Momma’s?” Everyone in the house had phones and could use them now, thanks to Chloe’s magic cloak software.
Chloe nodded, her chin moving up and down in a mechanical movement. “It’s been five hours. Even if everyone’s phone died at the same moment, they should have been able to recover and make contact in five hours. I didn’t wantto worry you, but Cristián has now missed two scheduled calls.”
